Personally, I would be very reluctant to part with our 1st pick in the draft.

However, David Parkin made a very good point on Fox Sport's AFL Teams last night. He said that he was concerned about the development of our young players because there isn't enough talent/leadership around them. He said that Melbourne's best players are B-graders at best, and it's hard to argue otherwise.

As part of this exercise, I have listed the best player (as viewed from the outside) of each AFL club:

Adelaide: Andrew McLeod

Brisbane: Jonathon Brown

Carlton: Chris Judd

Collingwood: Dale Thomas

Essendon: Matthew Lloyd

Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich

Geelong: Jimmy Bartel

Hawthorn: Lance Franklin

Melbourne: Cameron Bruce

Nth Melbourne: Brent Harvey

Port Adelaide: Chad Cornes

Richmond: Matthew Richardson

Sydney: Adam Goodes

St Kilda: Nick Riewoldt

Western Bulldogs: Brad Johnson

West Coast: Daniel Kerr

This list is loaded with talent/leadership. There are premierships, All-Australians, B&Fs, Coleman medals, rising stars etc etc. But Bruce is definitely the odd one out. No premierships, no All-Australians, no B&Fs (best finish 2nd twice in 2002 and 2006).

The same could be said about Collingwood. Dale Thomas is arguably their best player, at least that is the perception from outside the club supporter base. But he is young, and hasn't really achieved anything yet. So it's no surprise that Melbourne and Collingwood have been linked with J. Brown.

I'm of the opinion that we have some of the most exciting youngsters in the land. Morton, Grimes, Maric, McLean, Dunn, Bate, Bartram, Garland, Martin, Frawley, Petterd are all very promising.

Will their growth be impeded due to a lack of "A-grade" presence on our list? Or is the physical and mental attitude of our B-graders, such as Brad Miller, sufficient in guiding our younger players?

Should we make a bid for Brown/Kerr if the opportunity arises? The long-term impact of the presence of one of these guys on ALL our kids could outweigh the impact of gaining ONE gun kid in the draft.

This is just a hypothetical, but it's essential that we look at the big picture.

I would absoloutly love to have Daniel Kerr at Melbourne Football Club.

He is the type of player we have been lacking for years. Blistering pace and alot of footy smarts. Leadership at times. Hes still young enough too.

Just couldnt see us getting him though. We havent got anything West Coast want and we would be reluctant to give up any of our top 20 picks.

Should Kerr not re-sign and Eagles want at least something for him, I think our 2nd, 4th and 6th picks would do us.

I would absoloutly love to have Daniel Kerr at Melbourne Football Club.

He is the type of player we have been lacking for years. Blistering pace and alot of footy smarts. Leadership at times. Hes still young enough too.

Just couldnt see us getting him though. We havent got anything West Coast want and we would be reluctant to give up any of our top 20 picks.

Should Kerr not re-sign and Eagles want at least something for him, I think our 2nd, 4th and 6th picks would do us.

The guy rivals Jordan Lewis at the summit of on-field stupidity. Unlike Lewis, most of his idiocy is born of frustration, but he definitely wouldn't be any less frustrated at MFC. On top of that, hes barely had a kick since Judd and Cousins left.

A liability and a massive waste of anything more than a PS draft pick.

The guy rivals Jordan Lewis at the summit of on-field stupidity. Unlike Lewis, most of his idiocy is born of frustration, but he definitely wouldn't be any less frustrated at MFC. On top of that, hes barely had a kick since Judd and Cousins left.

A liability and a massive waste of anything more than a PS draft pick.

Unlike Jordan Lewis, Daniel Kerr is a match winner on the field.

Unlike Jordan Lewis, Daniel Kerr is a match winner on the field.

Highly Debatable. As I said hes barely recognised the thing since Judd and Cousins left. He absolutely has not been as prolific as he was prior to their departure. He would find himself in a similar situation at Melbourne. Cox is a bigger (pun not intended) asset for WC than Kerr.

The only reason I could justify trading away anything for him is to get some pace into the team. Given the likely cost, I don't think its worth it.

First of all, Dean Cox is West Coast's best player, and Travis Cloke is Collingwood's best player. And I'd argue the point that Scott Thomson has gone past Andrew McLeod too. But that doesn't really matter.

Unlike Jordan Lewis, Daniel Kerr is a match winner on the field.

On what do you base this High Tower? His form this year has been nothing short of rubbish. He cannot deal with heavy tags; his best performances were those of 2005-2007 when 1) West Coast were winning games and 2) There were Chris Judd and Ben Cousins working with him.

If Kerr wants out of West Coast, it's because he wants to go somewhere with a decent midfield where he can go back to doing what he does best: being the team's 2nd or 3rd midfielder. Not only will he not want to come to Melbourne, but we don't want him. He won't add anything to the team.

Highly Debatable. As I said hes barely recognised the thing since Judd and Cousins left. He absolutely has not been as prolific as he was prior to their departure. He would find himself in a similar situation at Melbourne. Cox is a bigger (pun not intended) asset for WC than Kerr.

On what do you base this High Tower? His form this year has been nothing short of rubbish. He cannot deal with heavy tags; his best performances were those of 2005-2007 when 1) West Coast were winning games and 2) There were Chris Judd and Ben Cousins working with him.

If Kerr wants out of West Coast, it's because he wants to go somewhere with a decent midfield where he can go back to doing what he does best: being the team's 2nd or 3rd midfielder. Not only will he not want to come to Melbourne, but we don't want him. He won't add anything to the team.

Guys, firstly I never said "let's get him". It was a statement of fact. How many games have you seen won by the boot and play of Jordan Lewis. And how many have you seen because of D.Kerr.

I won't mention Brownlow Votes. Oops I just did.

(that has nothing to do with it anyway). The fact of the matter is Daniel Kerr has proven time and time again that he is a proven match winner. With or without Chris Judd and Ben Cousins. I have yet to see the same from Jordan Lewis. Its just a comparison of careers so far IMO.

If Kerr wants out of West Coast, it's because he wants to go somewhere with a decent midfield where he can go back to doing what he does best: being the team's 2nd or 3rd midfielder. Not only will he not want to come to Melbourne, but we don't want him. He won't add anything to the team.

It more a case of what Kerr could add would not be within the time line of what MFC is trying to do. Your other points are valid.

And did anyone mention successful club culture and Daniel Kerr?

(that has nothing to do with it anyway). The fact of the matter is Daniel Kerr has proven time and time again that he is a proven match winner. With or without Chris Judd and Ben Cousins. I have yet to see the same from Jordan Lewis. Its just a comparison of careers so far IMO.

Kerr is 4 years older and had 4 years in the AFL. He was also a part of one of the most elite midfields you would get with Judd and Cousins. With them gone, Kerr has found the midfield a far harder place as the No 1 midfielder.

And if he came to MFC, what would he be?....No 1 midfielder. Be harder at MFC than WCE this year.

Not a fair comparison between Lewis and Kerr.

The fact of the matter is Daniel Kerr has proven time and time again that he is a proven match winner. With or without Chris Judd and Ben Cousins.

But when West Coast needed him most, he disappeared.

But when West Coast needed him most, he disappeared.

Kerr has issues on and off the field...has a bad record at the tribunal, any time he goes up he will get a long holiday...

The risk is greater than the return IMO...

Kerr is 4 years older and had 4 years in the AFL. He was also a part of one of the most elite midfields you would get with Judd and Cousins. With them gone, Kerr has found the midfield a far harder place as the No 1 midfielder.

And if he came to MFC, what would he be?....No 1 midfielder. Be harder at MFC than WCE this year.

Not a fair comparison between Lewis and Kerr.

What he said. My comparison to Lewis was relating to acts of on-field petulance and stupidity, of which I consider Lewis to be king. Kerr is not too far behind, and seems to find the blood rushing to his head all too often. Lewis is not, and likely never will be, in Kerr's class, although it is entirely debatable exactly where Kerr sits in the scheme of things.

What he said. My comparison to Lewis was relating to acts of on-field petulance and stupidity, of which I consider Lewis to be king. Kerr is not too far behind, and seems to find the blood rushing to his head all too often. Lewis is not, and likely never will be, in Kerr's class, although it is entirely debatable exactly where Kerr sits in the scheme of things.

Good summary of what we were talking about initially until i mentioned Kerr is a match winner. And you are quite right as to where Kerr sits in the scheme of things right now - now that the landscape has changed at West Coast. (ref: player list)